Standpipe connection for pumps



I Patented Mar. 4, 1941 PATENT 1 OFFICE '7 STANDPIPE CONNECTION FOR'PU'MIS William E. Geer and Elmer R. Wilfley, Denver, 0010., assignors to A. R. Wilfley and Sons Inc., Denver, 0010., a corporation of Colorado Application March 4, 1940, Serial No. 322,146 7 Claims. (01. 285-1) This invention relates to an improved standpipe connection for centrifugal pumps, and it is particularly an improvement over the disclosure set forth in the patent to A. R. Wilfley, No.

5 1,346,925. a As is well-known to those skilled in the art,

it is highly desirable to provide means on a centrifugal pump whereby the standpipe connected with the pump discharge readily may-be dis- 10 connected and held in a slightly spaced relationship away from the pump casing outlet, when required for the purpose of servicing the pump.

This is particularly true in centrifugal sand pumps where the pump rotor and the casing re- 15 quire servicing or replacement more often than the standpipe itself. Such standpipes may be relatively long and heavy and it would be manifestly impractical to take apart the pipeline itself in order to service the pump.

20 Certain difficulties have been inherent in prior mechanism used for this purpose, because such prior mechanism has provided for a threaded connection with the standpipe. The reason such a threadedconnection is undesirable is because 25 the wall of any pipe where a thread is cut into it, is thereby made thinner than other parts of the pipe wall, causing the pipe to wear and weaken due to the abrasive effects of material, particular ly sand, discharged through the pipe. I

Another objection inherent in the prior art is that precise alinement between the standpipe and the pump discharge opening has been difficult or impossible to effect. As a direct result of misalinement between the pump discharge and the 5 standpipe, undesirable eddy currents are set up causing excess friction, inefficient operation, and too rapid wear of the pipe and other parts adjacent the connection.

Still another objection to prior practice has 40 been that means for drawing the standpipe connection securely toward the pump outlet to effect a sealed connection therebetween, have lacked dependable efiiciency.

In view of the state of the art and optimum 45 requirements, a principal object of the present invention is to provide means on a centrifugal pump or the like, whereby a standpipe connection with the outlet of the pump may be efficiently and accurately effected.

50 Another object is the provision of such mechanism that can efiect a flanged connection with the standpipe, in contradistinction from a threaded connection.

A further object is to provide mechanism of 55 this character that may be usedefflcientlyto lift the standpipe away from its connection with the pump discharge, and to hold the standpipe in such elevated position so that the pump casing can be removed for service when desired.

Other objects and advantages reside in details of design and construction which will be more fully disclosed in the following description and in the drawing wherein like parts have been similarly designated and in which:

Figure 1 is a-general side elevation'of a centrifugal sand pump inclusive of the improvements herein set forth;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical section of that portion of the mechanism shown in Figure 1 that embodies the present inventive concept, drawn to a larger scale;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical section corresponding to Figure 2, illustrating a slightly modified form of certain details shown in Figure 2.-

In order clearly to disclose an operative reduction to practioe of the present inventive concept, the accompanying drawing will be described in detail. However, it is to be understood that the instant example is intended to be a typical illustration and it should not be construed to express or to imply any particular limitation to this invention, the scope of which is, in reality, measured by the appended claims.

In the drawing, reference character l5 denotes a modern centrifugal sand pump as a whole. The pump has a removable rotor casing I6 provided with an upwardly opening, discharge H. A bosslike projection 18 is preferably cast integral with that portion of the general supporting structure of the pump that is not removable with the casing l6.

The meansfor driving the pump and its general operating characteristics need not be here de- 40 scribed in detail since they are well-known to thoseskilled in the art and are no particular part of thepresent invention. 7

After casting the pump frame inclusive of the boss I8, this boss is drilled with the assistance of a locating jig so that the hole drilled therein is in exact predetermined spaced relationship with the pump discharge H. A shouldered pin I9 is fitted into the drilled boss I 8 and is held thereinby aset screw 20, which engages in a groove 19a in the pin.

A yoke 2| is provided with semi-circular arms 22 that enclose approximately half ofthe cir cumference of a flanged sleeve 23 The yoke has an in r u t at s co nt r o d tq f as accurately over the upper portion of the pin l9, as best shown in Figure 2-.

The upper portion of the pin I3 is provided with a keyway 25, and the head of a bolt 26 that is positioned through a side of the hub 24, engages in the keyway after the manner of a key, to provide a guide for longitudinal movement of the yoke with reference to the pin IS.

The lower edges of the arms 22 are provided with three padsso that they bear'on the lower flange 23a of the sleeve 23 in a three point contact.

A screw 21 is positioned oentrallythrough the hub 24 of the yoke 2| and is threaded axially into the pin I9 at the upperend thereof. This screw 2'! is provided with a flange 21a, positioned within the bore of the hub 24, and further provided with a nut 28 which is pinned thereto exterior of the hub 24 so that it cannot rotate with reference to the screw after the assembly is The screw 21' is free to turn in the hub 24, the bore of which is ofa size to snugly fit the screw Where said bore surrounds it. The upper end of the pin .l9isrecessed to admit freely the flange Hoof-the screw 21, and the nut 28 is positioned in the yoke 2|, and the opening 3| in the lug is positioned to aline with openings. 33 in the yoke 2|, so thata bolt 34 may .be inserted loosely through said yoke and lug, as best shown in Figure 3. ,Another. lug 35projects radially fromthe flanged sleeve 23 immediately above the central portion of the semi-ci-rcularryoke l-arms 22.

,A gasket 36 is-positioned between the lower flange -23a of the sleeve 23 and the similarly flanged pump discharge I'l.

Figure 4 illustrates a modification of the shape and positions of the openingsthat receive the bolt 34. In this modified form, 'anopening 3|a. is positioned in -lug,30 andcorresponds to the opening;3| hereinbefore described. However, the longitudin-al axis of the opening 3|a is positioned at an "angle from the perpendicular. A series of three openings 33a correspond to the opening 33 and are positioned along a line thatis at an angle from the perpendicular, opposite to the axis of the opening 310, and intersecting said axis. This modified arrangement provides for greater adaptability in the relationship of the sleeve 23' and the yoke 2|,-as is manifestfrom the drawing.

Assembly and operation In use, the pin I3 is assembled into the bore of the boss |8 and-the set screw 20 is advanced inwardly to engage in the groove |9u,, thus preventing axi'al movement of the pin 3 with reference to its receiving boss |8. When sufficiently tightened, set screw 20 will prevent rotation of the pin I9.

The screw 21 is threaded into the upper end of the pin l3 and the-bored hub 24of the yoke 2| is positioned over the upper endof the pin l3 and the screw 21 so that it encloses the flange 21c and so that the head of bolt 26 engages the keyway 25. Next, the nut 28 is pinned onto the upper end of the screw '21, which projects through the hub.

Sincethe semi-circular arms 22 of the yoke 2| are open at-their outer extremities, the flanged sleeve 23 readily may lee-inserted betwc'en' said arms, bringing the opening 3| or the opening 3|a, as the case may be, in the projecting lug 30, into a position to receive the anchor bolt 34 that the lower flange 23a of the sleeve 23, will draw said sleeve down against gasket 36 to effect a sealed connection between the sleeve and the pump discharge.

Since the bore in the boss I8 is accuratelylocated with reference to the position of the pump discharge, and since the pin 7 I9, together with the yoke 2| mounted thereon, are rotatable in' their mounting, the sleeve 23 will be located accurately with reference to the pump discharge and the three-point bearing of the arms 22 against the flange 23a will insure an optimum seating of the sleeve on the gasket and the gasket on the pump discharge.

The upper flange of the sleeve 23 is then joined onto a similar flange on the standpipe, not shown, to complete the assembly.

When it is necessary to remove the casing l6 from the pump for inspection, service or replacement, the screw 21 may be turned by means of its pinned nut 28, in .a direction to bring the flange 21a up against the inn-er surface of the hub 24. to raise the entire yoke 2| so that it will bear against the lug 35 to raise the sleeve 23 and the entire standpipe connected thereabove. This raising of the standpipe need be onlya' fraction of an inch, which will be enough to break the seal between the sleeve and the pump discharge sufficiently so that the pump casing Hi can be removed. During the time the pump casing is disconnected from the sleeve, the entire standpipe will be held by the yoke 2|, and it will be found there is sufficient spring in the standpipe to permi t this relatively small movement.

Preferably, thenut 28 is threaded onto the upper end of the screw 21 and then pinned to prevent rotation of the nut with reference to the screw. For convenience in disassembly, a set screw, not shown, may 'be. provided through the hub 24 to bear against the screw 21 where the hub surrounds the screw, so that the screw may be held from rotation, when it is desired to unscrew the nut 28 therefrom. v

The objects and'advantages of this invention are well fulfilled by the structure herein illustrated and described. All threaded connections between standpipe and pump are eliminated; the connection between the standp-ipe and the pump discharge may be readily and accurately alined; the seal between the sleeve and the pump discharge is efficiently effected; and the entire standpipe may be lifted from the pump casing and held in this lifted position so that the casing may be removed.

The invention is considered tobe defined clearly and correctly in the following'claims. What we claim and desire to secure by" Letters Patent is:

1. In apparatus of the pump frame, a casing having a discharge opening removably mounted upon the frame, a pin rotatably mounted on the pump frame,--a yoke carried upon the pin, and. a flanged sleeve en'- character disclosed, a r

gaged bythe yoke and positioned in alinement with the said discharge opening. 2. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a pump frame, a casing having a discharge opening removably mounted upon the frame, a pin rotatably mounted on the frame, a yoke slidably mounted on the pin, a screw positioned through the yoke and threaded into the pin for raising and lowering the yoke with reference thereto,

and a flanged sleeve engaged by the yoke and loosely connected therewith in alinement said discharge opening.

3. In apparatus of the character disclosed, the improvement which comprises a rotatably mounted pin, a yoke carried upon the pin for vertical longitudinal movement relative thereto, a screw engaging the yoke and the pin for so moving the yoke, and a flanged sleeve engaged by the yoke and loosely connected therewith, the yoke having three pads positioned to contact the lower flange of the sleeve, there being a lug projecting from the sleeve above the yoke.

4. In apparatus of the character I disclosed, the improvement which comprises an open yoke mounted for both pivotal and axial movements, a sleeve engaged by said yoke, a lug projecting with radially from said sleeve, the lug having Kan elongated opening the axis of which is positioned at an angle with reference to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve, and a connecting member positioned through the yoke and the aperture in the lug.

5. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a pump frame, a casing having a discharge opening removably mounted upon the frame, an annularly grooved pin rotatably mounted on the frame, a set screw engaging in said groove for limiting movement of the pin relative to the pump frame, a yoke having semi-circular open arms and having a hub slidably positioned on the pin, there being a keyway in the pin and a keyway-engaging member on the yoke, a sleeve engaged by the arms of the yoke and positioned in alinement with the discharge opening, means for loosely connecting the sleeve with the yoke, and a flanged screw positioned through the yoke and into the pin for moving said yoke and said sleeve longitudinally with reference to the pin and with reference tosaid discharge opening.

6. In apparatus of the character disclosed, inelusive of a pump frame, the improvement which comprises a yoke pivotally mounted on the frame, and a flanged sleeve engaged by the yoke for movement thereby relative to said frame.

'7. In apparatus of the character disclosed, inclusive of a pump frame, the improvement which comprises a yoke mounted on the frame for pivotal and axial movements, a flanged sleeve engaged. by the yoke, and a screw positioned for raising and lowering the yoke and the sleeve with reference to said frame.

WILLIAM E. GEER. ELMER R. WILFLEY. 

